Unreeler

ABSTRACT

A coil unreeler for dispensing strapping in response to the application of a withdrawing force to a withdrawn portion of the strapping having braking means for braking the reel, means for accelerating the reel from a stand-still to facilitate initiation of a dispensing operation and means for receiving and storing the withdrawing force and gradually transmitting the force to the accelerating means to gradually accelerate the coil.

United States Patent Plattner et al.

[ 5 Sept. 5, 1972 [S4] UNREELER [72] Inventors: Robert F. Plattner, Chicago Heights? Bestor P. Coleman, Willow Springs,

both of ill. [73] Assignee: lnterlake, Inc., Chicago, Ill. [22] Filed: July g 1970 [2!] Appl. No.: 53,191

[52] U.S. Cl ..242/75.43, 242/ 156.2 [51} Int. Cl. ..B65h 25/22 [58] Field of Search ..242/75.4, 75.43, l56, l56.2, 242/863 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,905,406 9/1959 Falck-Pedersen......242/75.43

5/1969 Tetens ..242/75.43 3/1959 Nelson ..242/l56.2

Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Assistant Examiner-Milton Gerstein Attorney-Prangley, Clayton, Mullin, Dithmar & Vogel [57] ABSTRACT A coil unreeler for dispensing strapping in response to the application of a withdrawing force to a withdrawn portion of the strapping having braking means for braking the reel, means for accelerating the reel from a stand-still to facilitate initiation of a dispensing operation and means for receiving and storing the withdrawing force and gradually transmitting the force to the accelerating means to gradually accelerate the coil.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEB EP m 3.688.999

SHEET 1 BF 2 ll INVENTORS ROBERT E PLATTNER BESTOR R COLEMAN BY PITENTED 5 1973 3.688.999

sum 2 or 2 UNREELER This invention relates to coil unreeler and in particular to unreelers for dispensing strapping made from synthetic material such as nylon, polypropylene or the like.

It is important object of the present invention to provide a coil unreeler having means for rotatively supporting a coil of flexible material to be unreeled therefrom incident to the application of a withdrawing force on a withdrawn portion of the flexible material and means for breaking the coil, coil-unreeling control mechanism comprising coil accelerating mechanism for initiating acceleration of the coil, an actuator member coupled to the withdrawn portion of the flexible material, means interconnecting the actuator member and the braking means for releasing the braking means, linkage interconnecting the actuator member and the coil accelerating mechanism, the actuator member being responsive to the application of the withdrawing force to the withdrawn portion of the flexible material for releasing the braking means and for applying force to the linkage, the linkage receiving and storing the force applied thereto and gradually transmitting the force to the coil accelerating mechanism gradually to accelerate the coil, whereby gradually to apply force through the flexible material to the coil accelerating mechanism through the linkage without damage to the flexible material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a coil unreeler of the type set forth in which the linkage receiving and storing the force applied thereto includes a time delay device providing a predetermined time delay between the application of the force to the linkage and the application of a force to the coil accelerating mechanism thus to assure release of the braking means and subsequent gradual transmission of the entire withdrawing force to the coil accelerating mechanism gradually to accelerate the coil.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a coil unreeler of the type set forth in which a substantially enclosed guide is mounted on the actuator member and receives therethrough the withdrawn portion of the flexible material.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a coil unreeler of the type set forth in which a substantially enclosed guide is pivotally mounted on the actuator member and receives therethrough the withdrawn portion of the flexible material, the guide member being of sufficient length to rest on the coil of the flexible material when a withdrawing force is not applied to the withdrawn portion of the flexible material to prevent the withdrawn portion of the flexible material from interfering with dispensing thereof.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a coil unreeler of the type set forth in which a dancer roller is rotatably mounted on the actuator member, a guide member is fixedly mounted with respect to the axis of rotation to form with the dancer roller a substantially enclosed guide through which passes the withdrawn portion of the flexible material to maintain the flexible material in engagement with a dancer roller during the application of the withdrawing force.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a coil unreeler embodying the invention herein, with the actuator and the dancer roller carried thereby being shown in alternate positions;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the dancer roller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the dancer roller taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view partially broken away of the coil accelerating mechanism, the actuator member and the linkage therebetween of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the coil accelerating mechanism, the actuator, and the linkage therebetween taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

As best seen in FIG. 1, a coil unreeler 10 is mounted on a base 11 and an upstanding pedestal l2 and includes a reel assembly 13 having a first reel plate 14 connected to a second reel plate (not shown) spaced apart but parallel tothe first reel plate 14, and interconnected thereto by a hub (not shown). The reel as sembly 13 is removably mounted on a shaft 17 by means of a suitable nut 18, washer 19 and cotter pin 20, the reel plates 14 defining an annular support for carrying a coil of flexible material, such as strapping 22, which strapping 22 may be of steel or a synthetic material, the strapping 22 to be unreeled by drawing the outer free end of the coil from the outer circumference thereof.

More specifically, the strapping 22 is withdrawn from the coil about a dancer roller 23 which is carried on a first portion 24 of an actuator or rocker arm 25. The actuator or rocker arm 25 is provided with a pivot portion 26 which is pivotally mounted on a pivot post 27 fixed to the pedestal 12. The pivot portion 26 may be retained on the pivot post 27 by suitable means such as a nut 28. The actuator or rocker arm 25 further includes a second portion 29 extending from the pivot portion 26 angularly to the first arm portion 24. A coil spring 30 is connected between the second arm portion 29 of the actuator or rocker arm 25 and a hook 31 secured to a bracket 32 on the pedestal 12 to bias the actuator or rocker arm in a counterclockwise direction around the pivot post 27, all as shown in FIG. 1.

The counter-clockwise biasing of the actuator or rocker arm 25 provides a selective braking of the reel 13 by pulling a brake belt 33 connected at one end 34 to the first arm portion 24 of the actuator or rocker arm 25 by a U-bolt 35 and associated fasteners. The other end 37 of the brake belt 33 is connected to a bracket 38 fixedly mounted on the pedestal 12 by means of a U- bolt 39 and associated fasteners or nuts 40, the brake belt 33 extending about an annular brake drum 41 mounted on the reel plate 14 to provide the requisite frictional contact between the brake belt 33 and the brake drum 41 when the actuator or rocker arm 25 is in the full-line coil braking position of FIG. 1. Movement of the actuator or rocker arm 25 to the coil braking position shown in phantom in FIG. 1, as hereinafter explained, will disengage the brake belt 33 from the surface of the brake drum 41.

As particularly seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, a conventional one-way clutch 43 mounted on the shaft 17 includes an arm portion 44 which is connected to the second arm portion 29 of the actuator or rocker arm by a linkage 100. More specifically, the one-way clutch includes a pin 46 fixedly mounted to the arm portion 44 by means of a set screw 47 and suitable fasteners or nuts 48. An adjustable stop 50 is mounted on the pedestal 12, the stop 50 having a shoulder portion 51 adapted to be engaged by the clutch arm 44 in the clockwise extreme movement thereof about the axis of the shaft 17 as aflected by the biasing of coil spring 30. A stop 55 is mounted on the first arm portion 24 of the actuator or rocker arm 25 and cooperates with a shoulder member 56 mounted on the pedestal 12 to prevent further clockwise pivoting of the actuator or rocker arm 25 beyond the position shown in phantom in FIG. 1.

Turning specifically now to the linkage mechanism and particularly with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the linkage mechanism 100 includes a U-shaped bar 101 having legs 102 and 103. The parallel spaced-apart legs 102 and 103 each have apertures 104 therein, the apertures 104 being in registry one with the other and the straight portion of the U-shaped bar 101 having therein a slot 109. A rod 105 is positioned to extend through the apertures 104 in the legs 102 and 103 of the U-shaped bar 101, the rod 105 having a threaded portion 106 extending through the leg 102 of the U- shaped bar 101. Two nuts 107 are positioned on the threaded portion 106 of the rod 105 exterior of the leg 102 of the U-shaped bar 101. Two nuts 108 are positioned on the threaded portion 106 of the rod 105 intermediate the legs 102 and 103, the nuts 108 and the interior side of the leg 102 of the U-shaped bar 101 forming end stops for a coil spring 110 mounted therebetween about the rod 105. The threaded portion 106 of the rod 105 is connected by a nut 114 to a ball joint 115, the ball joint 115 being connected via a link 116 and nut 117 to the second arm portion 29 of the actuator or rocker arm 25.

Returning now more fully to describe the dancer roller 23, there is shown particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3 the association of the dancer roller 23 and the actuator 25 and particularly the first arm portion 24 thereof. A shaft 120 is fixedly secured to the first arm portion 24 of the actuator 25 such as by welding, the shaft 120 having a large diameter portion 121 abutting the first arm portion 24 of the actuator 25 and a smaller diameter portion 122 extending outwardly and away from the large diameter portion 121, a portion of the smaller diameter portion 122 being threaded as at 123. The dancer roller 23 is provided with an inner annular portion 124 adapted to co-operate with a set of bearings 125 thereby freely rotatably to mount the dancer roller 23 about the shaft 120. The dancer roller 23 includes a flat wheel hub 126 having spaced-apart and upwardly extending side walls 127, the wheel hub 126 being spaced apart from the annular portion 124 by a flange 128.

A strap guide bar 130 includes a main rod portion 131 having at one end thereof a hoop 132 and at the other end thereof an offset portion 133 integral with the main rod portion 131 and leading to a short rod portion 134. The short rod portion 134 is parallel to the main rod portion 131 but spaced apart therefrom. The short rod portion 134 is fixedly secured to a sleeve 135 mounted on the large diameter portion 121 of the shaft 120 and freely rotatable with respect thereto.

As may be seen from FIG. 1, the strap guide bar 130 is adapted to have a free end of the strapping 22 passed through the loop 132 thereof after the strapping 22 passes from the dancer roller 23 and before the strapping 22 arrives at the device withdrawing the same from the unreeler 10.

Two strap guides are fixedly mounted on the shaft 120 approximately 180 apart, the strap guides 140 being essentially identical in shape. Each of the strap guides 140 includes a U-shaped frame 141 having two spaced-apart and parallel side walls 142 connected by a top wall 143. Each of the side walls 142 has a curved bottom edge 144 having a radius of curvature slightly greater than the flat portion of the wheel hub 126 of the dancer roller 23, each of the side walls 142 extending downwardly between the side walls 127 of the dancer roller 23, thereby to form a closed path for the passage therethrough of the strapping 22. The top wall 143 of the strap guide 140 extends away from the side walls 142 and forms a hook-shaped portion 145 including a diagonally extending wall 146 integral with the top wall 143 and an outwardly curved portion 147. The diagonally extending wall 146 and part of the curved portion 147 are also disposed between the side walls 127 of the dancer roller 23 and with a bottom wall 148 connecting the portions 147 form a circle through which the strapping 22 passes to be retained within the confines of the dancer roller 23. Each of the strap guides 140 is mounted on the shaft 120 by a connecting member 150, the connecting member 150 including a straight portion 151 having an aperture therethrough for mounting on the smaller diameter portion 122 of the shaft 120 and one diagonally extending portion 152 extending away from the flange 128 of the roller 23 and a flange portion 153 integral with the diagonal portion 152 and perpendicular to the straight portion 151, the flange portion 153 supporting the top wall 143 of the associated strap guide 140. As each of the connecting members 150 is fixedly mounted on the shaft, the associated strap guides 140 do not rotate upon rotation of either the dancer roller 23 or the strap guide bar 130.

in operation, the strapping 22 is withdrawn from the coil on the reel assembly 13 and passes through the lower one of the strap guides 140 upwardly around the dancer roller 23 through the upper one of the strap guides 140 downwardly through the hoop 132 at the distal end of the strap guide bar 130 and thereafter to an associated machine which employs the strapping 22, one such machine being described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,139,813 issued to Hall et al., July 7, 1964 for STRAPPING MACHINE. When no withdrawing force is being applied to the strapping 22 the coil unreeler 10 is in position with the dancer roller 23 in the full-line position of FIG. 1, that is with the dancer roller 23 in its left-handrnost position as seen in F IG. 1. When the dancer roller 23 is in its left-handmost position, the brake belt 33 firmly is in contact with the brake drum 41 thereby to be in the brake applying condition thereof, the coil spring 30 normally biasing the dancer roller 23 to the left-handmost position. The one-way clutch 43 has the arm 44 thereof in its right-handmost position, as seen in FIG. 1, wherein the arm 44 is in contact with the shoulder portion 51 of the adjustable stop 50, thereby to prevent further clockwise movement of the clutch 43. The strap guide bar 130 is of sufficient length to rest on the periphery of the coil formed by the strapping 22 thereby to prevent the strapping 22 in the untensioned condition thereof from interfering with the coil-unreeling control mechanism and particularly with the wing nut 18 used to maintain the reel assembly 13 in place.

Upon the application of a withdrawing force to the strapping 22, the dancer roller 23 will move to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 1 in response to the tension applied to the dancer roller 23. As the actuator 25 pivots about the post 27 in a clockwise direction, the lower portion 29 moves against the coil spring 30 and the upper portion 24 moves clockwise until further clockwise movement is prevented by the stop 55 and shoulder member 56. With the aforementioned clockwise rotation of the actuator 25, the brake belt 33 is released from its tensioned position against the brake drum 41, thereby to allow free rotation of the reel assembly 13 about the shaft 17. As a portion of the withdrawing force is being used to release the brake belt 33, the arm 44 of the clutch 43 does not move because the slot 109 in the linkage 100 is sufficiently long that the terminal end thereof does not contact the pin 46 on the clutch arm 44, thereby to provide a lostmotion device in which sequentially the brake belt 33 is released prior to the activation of the coil accelerating mechanism or one-way clutch 43. AFter the brake belt 33 has been released and the right-handmost edge of the slot 109, as seen in FIG. 4, contacts the pin 46, the clutch arm 44 is moved away from the stop 50 in a counter-clockwise direction, thereby to accelerate the coil of strapping 22 to unreel the same. As the withdrawing force is applied to the strapping 22 and through the actuator 25 to the linkage 100, the rod 105 is pulled to the left as seen in FIG. 5, thereby to compress the spring 110 to store a portion of the withdrawing force received by the linkage 100 and thereafter gradually to release the same to the clutch 43 to provide continued counter-clockwise movement thereof as the coil spring 110 gradually returns to its fully extended position As may be seen, therefore, the linkage 100 provides means for storing the withdrawing force as it is applied to the strapping 22 and gradually to release the same to the coil accelerating mechanism 43 to prevent the entire withdrawing force from being transmitted through the strapping 22 to the point of application thereof. If there were no energy storing device or linkage 100, the entire withdrawing force would be applied to the point where the withdrawing force is applied to the strapping 22 when the withdrawing force was used to initiate acceleration of the coil of strapping 22 from a stand-still position. Particularly in the case where the strapping 22 is of a synthetic material such as nylon, polypropylene, or the like, and the coil of strapping 22 is a significantly large mass such as a 1,000 pound coil, the instantaneous application of the withdrawing force and the reaction thereto when the force is used to accelerate the heavy coil, results in damage to the strapping 22. By the use of the energy storing linkage 100 of the present invention, damage to strapping 22 of the type above described, is prevented.

The strap guides 140 are U-shaped and have the side walls 142 thereof extending adjacent to the wheel rim 126 of the dancer roller 23 to provide an enclosed guide for the strapping 22, thereby to prevent the strapping 22 from disengaging from the dancer roller 23. In the case where synthetic strapping material 22, such as nylon, polypropylene, or the like is used, the strapping 22 has a significant amount of camber which results in the strapping 22 having a tendency to walk" up the side walls 127 of the dancer roller 23, thereby to disengage from the dancer roller 23. The improved configuration of the strap guides 140 prevents the strapping 22 from walking away from the dancer roller 23.

When a withdrawing force is applied to the strapping 22, the strap guide bar 130 moves off of the outer periphery of the coil of strapping 22 to a position shown in phantom in FIG. 1, the exact position of the strap guide bar 130 when a withdrawing force is applied to the strapping 22 being determined by the relative position of the associated machine applying the withdrawing force and the coil unreeler 10. During the application of a withdrawing force to the strapping 22, the strap guide bar 130 rides with the strapping 22 and does not interfer with the same.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a coil unreeler having an energy storing device for gradually transmitting force to the coil accelerating mechanism and improved strap guide means. While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. In a coil unreeler having means for rotatively supporting a coil of flexible material to be unreeled therefrom incident to the application of a withdrawing force on a withdrawn portion of the flexible material and means for braking the coil, coil-unreeling control mechanism comprising coil accelerating mechanism for initiating acceleration of the coil, an actuator member coupled to the withdrawn portion of the flexible material and movable between a coil braking condition and a coil releasing condition, bias means resiliently urging said actuator member toward the coil braking condition thereof, means interconnecting said actuator member and the braking means for releasing the braking means, linkage interconnecting said actuator member and said coil accelerating mechanism, said linkage including first and second overlapping rigid connecting members respectively coupled to said actuator member and to said coil accelerating mechanism and a coil compression spring coupled between said first and second connecting members, said actuator member being movable from the coil braking condition thereof to the coil releasing condition thereof against the urging of said bias means in response to the application of the withdrawing force to the withdrawn portion of the flexible material, movement of said actuator member from the braking condition thereof to the releasing condition thereof serving to release the braking means and to apply a force to said linkage, said compression spring being compressed by the force applied to said linkage during movement of said actuating member toward the releasing condition thereof for storing said force and then expanding gradually to transmit the stored force to said coil accelerating mechanism prior to movement of said actuator member back toward the braking condition thereof thereby gradually to accelerate the coil, whereby gradually to apply force through the flexible material to the coil accelerating mechanism through said linkage without damage to the flexible material.

2. in a coil unreeler having means for rotatively supporting a coil of flexible material to be unreeled therefrom incident to the application of a withdrawing force on a withdrawn portion of the flexible material and means for braking the coil, coil-unreeling control mechanism comprising coil accelerating mechanism for initiating acceleration of the coil, and actuator member coupled to the withdrawn portion of the flexible material and movable between a coil braking condition and a coil releasing condition, bias means resiliently urging said actuator member toward the coil braking condition thereof, a rod mounted adjacent to one end thereof on said actuator member for pivotal movement with respect thereto, a guide ring carried by said rod adjacent to the other end thereof and receiving therethrough the withdrawn portion of the flexible material, said rod being so dimensioned and arranged that said other end thereof rests on the coil of the flexible material when no withdrawing force is applied to the withdrawn portion of the flexible material to prevent the withdrawn portion of the flexible material from interfering with dispensing thereof, means interconnecting said actuator member and the braking means for releasing the braking means, linkage interconnecting said actuator member and said coil accelerating mechanism, said linkage including first and second overlapping rigid connecting members respectively coupled to said actuator member and to said coil accelerating mechanism and a coil compression spring coupled between said first and second connecting members, said actuator member being movable from the coil braking condition thereof to the coil releasing condition thereof against the urging of said bias means in response to the application of the withdrawing force to the withdrawn portion of the flexible material, movement of said actuator member from the braking condition thereof to the releasing condition thereof serving to release the braking means and to apply force to said linkage, said compression spring being compressed by the force applied to said linkage during movement of said actuating member toward the releasing condition thereof for storing said force and then expanding gradually to transmit the stored force to said coil accelerating mechanism prior to movement of said actuator member back toward the braking condition thereof thereby gradually to accelerate the coil, whereby gradually to apply force through the flexible material to the coil accelerating mechanism through said linkage without damage to the flexible material.

i I I l 

1. In a coil unreeler having means for rotatively supporting a coil of flexible material to be unreeled therefrom incident to the application of a withdrawing force on a withdrawn portion of the flexible material and means for braking the coil, coilunreeling control mechanism comprising coil accelerating mechanism for initiating acceleration of the coil, an actuator member coupled to the withdrawn portion of the flexible material and movable between a coil braking condition and a coil releasing condition, bias means resiliently urging said actuator member toward the coil braking condition thereof, means interconnecting said actuator member and the braking means for releasing the braking means, linkage interconnecting said actuator member and said coil accelerating mechanism, said linkage including first and second overlapping rigid connecting members respectively coupled to said actuator member and to said coil accelerating mechanism and a coil compression spring coupled between said first and second connecting members, said actuator member being movable from the coil braking condition thereof to the coil releasing condition thereof against the urging of said bias means in response to the application of the withdrawing force to the withdrawn portion of the flexible material, movement of said actuator member from the braking condition thereof to the releasing condition thereof serving to release the braking means and to apply a force to said linkage, said compression spring being compressed by the force applied to said linkage during movement of said actuating member toward the releasing condition thereof for storing said force and then expanding gradually to transmit the stored force to said coil accelerating mechanism prior to movement of said actuator member back toward the braking condition thereof thereby gradually to accelerate the coil, whereby gradually to apply force through the flexible material to the coil accelerating mechanism through said linkage without damage to the flexible material.
 2. In a coil unreeler having means for rotatively supporting a coil of flexible material to be unreeled therefrom incident to the application of a withdrawing force on a withdrawn portion of the flexible material and means for braking the coil, coil-unreeling control mechanism comprising coil accelerating mechanism for initiating acceleration of the coil, and actuator member coupled to the withdrawn portion of the flexible material and movable between a coil braking condition and a coil releasing condition, bias means resiliently urging said actuator member toward the coil braking condition thereof, a rod mounted adjacent to one end thereof on said actuator member for pivotal movement with respect thereto, a guide ring carried by said rod adjacent to the other end thereof and receiving therethrough the withdrawn portion of the flexible material, said rod being so dimensioned and arranged that said other end thereof rests on the coil of the flexible material when no withdrawing force is applied to the withdrawn portion of the flexible material to prevent the withdrawn portion of the flexible material from interfering with dispensing thereof, means interconnecting said actuator member and the braking means for releasing the braking means, linkage interconnecting said actuator member and said coil accelerating mechanism, said linkage including first and second overlapping rigid connecting members respectively coupled to said actuator member and to said coil accelerating mechanism and a coil compression spring coupled between said first and second connecting members, said actuator member being movable from the coil braking condition thereof to the coil releasing condition thereof against the urging of said bias means in response to the application of the withdrawing force to the withdrawn portion of the flexible material, movement of said actuator member from the braking condition thereof to the releasing condition thereof serving to release the braking means and to apply force to said linkage, said compression spring being compressed by the force applied to said linkage during movement of said actuating member toward the releasing condition thereof for storing said force and then expanding gradually to transmit the stored force to said coil accelerating mechanism prior to movement of said actuator member back toward the braking condition thereof thereby gradUally to accelerate the coil, whereby gradually to apply force through the flexible material to the coil accelerating mechanism through said linkage without damage to the flexible material. 